Newcastle 3-1 Brentford: Sandro Tonali scores first-half brace to fireside the Magpies into the Carabao Cup semi-finals

They’ve got two feet in a two-legged semi-final now, the next step is one hand on the trophy – after nearly 70 years of tripping over themselves in pursuit of domestic silverware, Newcastle strode into the last four of the Carabao Cup thanks to an Italian who is starting to walk the walk.

Sandro Tonali had not scored since his debut 16 months ago – 10 of them spent banned for illegal gambling – and, until recently, he had not looked a fit for the Premier League or this team.

But after being moved to a new No 6 role last month, the £52million midfielder is the new No 1 with supporters. 

His two goals here set up a victory that moves Newcastle to within one tie of a Wembley final, and boy were they worth the wait, a pair of first-half stunners that raised the roof and the temperature of a chilly Tyneside night.

Best of all for Eddie Howe, though, was the ease with which his team navigated a game that was billed as season-defining. 

They made it look like no big deal at all, as if the latter stages of cup competitions are their natural home. They are not, of course, and that is why they last lifted a domestic trophy in 1955.

Sandro Tonali was Newcastle’s hero as he scored a first-half brace against Brentford

The Italian midfielder’s first goal was a fierce strike from the edge of the penalty area

He then volleyed home from a corner after Brentford’s defenders got in each other’s way

Newcastle, under Howe, were beaten in the final of this competition two seasons ago, but there was too emotion around that journey. This, rather, was clinical.

‘There was definitely a different feel to Leicester (a quarter-final win in 2022),’ said Howe. ‘There was a lot of emotion that night, as if it was a semi-final. It had a different feel tonight. We want to do this as regular as we can.’

Tonali was playing in Champions League semi-finals with Milan two seasons ago. It has, for him, been a winding path to this point.

‘I like to see players rewarded for dedication, hard work and loyalty,’ said Howe. ‘Those things mean a lot when you see what a player has given to achieve success. You now see him enjoying his football and playing a pivotal role in the team.

‘Sandro has been through a lot here, a lot of difficult moments, a lot of dark times and probably a lot of doubt. Now, everyone is seeing what a good player he is.’

Newcastle were not great in the first 45 minutes – an XG of half a goal – but they did not have to be when a deep-lying midfielder is putting away every half chance that comes his way.

Tonali’s first, on nine minutes, came when Nathan Collins half cleared a Tino Livramento cross and the Italy star returned it with interest from 25 yards. Mark Flekken may have been unsighted in the Brentford goal but even with a perfect view he was not stopping it, the ball whistling through bodies and into the bottom corner.

The game drifted a little thereafter, at least until Tonali himself drifted undetected into the penalty area to meet Anthony Gordon’s corner two minutes before half-time. He leapt from the turf to connect and, when his volley met the back of the net, those in the stands leapt from their seats.

Fabian Schar wrapped up the win by tapping home from close range to delight the home fans

Yoane Wissa pulled back a late consolation for Brentford who exit at the quarter-final stage

The only sour note of the opening period were bookings for captain Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar that will rule them out of the semi-final first leg. Undeterred, Guimaraes teed up Schar for the 69th-minute goal that confirmed the outcome.

The home fans were singing about trips to Wembley after that – Yoane Wissa did nick a consolation in stoppage-time – but ‘Tell me Ma’ was only second on the hit parade to a ditty about a ‘midfield maestro from Milano’. Because of his swagger, Newcastle are one step closer to their Holy Grail.